A golf society for residents and friends at Condado de Alhama

Well it seems a good time to sign off – I have done the blog for 10 years and now I don’t play often it is getting increasingly difficult to find things to talk about. And going to the Clover on a cold, dark winter night to take ONE photo of the winner (who may not even be there!) is not very appealing. So I am looking back on 10 great years and sharing some highlights with you. 721 posts, 475,000 views with it peaking at 750 views in one day in 2013. Now we have master scoreboard the need to look at my blog is redundant with the results, and facts and figures so easy to access. Records show a big drop in views since the new system came online. Monthly viewing figures for the last two and a half years of the blog are shown below.

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So share with me some of the good times!

The first divisional winners back in February 2010 (3 divisions and ladies then). Dave Lloyd, Barry Barker, Torild Lailey and Jan Holdhus who are all still members!

From humble beginnings in February 2010, the society has grown from a few golfers who did not know each other into a like minded community of over 800 at its peak. We have had to revert to the original idea that it was basically for residents and family members to make it manageable for the committee to control (now 520 members)..

It was only after the first year that a committee was formed with everything run as a proper golf club. A secretary, competitions secretary, handicap secretary, and treasurer were chosen to reduce the burden on the captain and vice captain. Working with the golf club management team (who were to change a number of times) we reserved weekly slots for our members at reduced price rates. It cannot be emphasised enough how valuable the work put in by committee members has been, but without this commitment the society could not have survived.

The blog was introduced by Phil Tann and from week one I have written the blog and tried to keep a record of the society’s history each week (and sometimes midweek!), occasionally adding some fun and humour to the reports.

Trophies were purchased, major competitions were decided , and evening presentation nights became a great success with friendships being formed which were to last forever.

Away days to other courses were to stay in our memories and society shirts gave us an identity, Phil Marlowe has supplied these from year one and the colour was to change each year.

Some typical images of our away days, really great times!

Condado Tom………………………..

Kevin & Cath…………………………….

Dance around the handbag………………………………..

Condado v Mar Menor challenge match………………………..

day out at Roda……………………………

We all had to share a drink at Saurines………………………

Neil ready for off………………………

thought better of it……………………..

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An away day at Las Colinas and Barry Answer looks so sad to wave goodbye to everyone on the bus as he heads back to the airport……………………

We even produced an annual fixture list booklet, although this is now unnecessary thanks to our professional golf management system (handicapmaster) which makes bookings, results and records so much easier.

Volunteers are so valuable, here are just two – Tanya Seckington and Sandra Rollett………

Our longest sponsor………………………..

We rely on sponsorship, and Apollo Air have been with us every month from the early days. And Barry Answer always puts on a special day and night every October. Showaddywaddy one year……………………….

St Patrick’s day…………………………………..

St George’s day……………………..

Dublin crystal………………………………………………

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The seniors trophy donated by Sandy and Dorothy Simpson

and the hairdressers sponsored us…………………………………………..

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and too many more to mention……………….all appreciated.

Presentation nights were special – this was Cher at our 2015 Anniversary trophy…………..

Seve night 2015………………………………..

St Georges obviously!

Borre gets in the picture in on ladies day………………………………..

Caribbean night……………………..

Dave with Barrington…………………………….

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The course has hosted several professional events e.g. Hi5/Evolve tour……………

Also we had a visit from the Spanish master Miguel Angel Jiminez. Away goes the trademark cigar………………………..

And we have had other celebrities………………

Mike Dean, Premier league and FA Cup final referee………………..

Peter Reeves, over 450 games for Charlton Athletic…………………..

Danni, from ‘A place in the sun’ is seen here on location with Denise from the golf bar……..

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Neil Simpson, famous for eating a pizza whole……………………………….

Some pictures involving drink……………………………………..

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Our home has been the Clover bar, and Neil and Lynn gave us the cocktail bar for our trophies. Chris McAllister took over and was happy to let us continue with the arrangement. We have added honours boards to to the golf corner.

Lynn & Neil………………………….

. Chris and Maria…………………….

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The trophy room………………………..

Chris upgraded it to have a more modern look…………………………..

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Major winners, captains, holes in one boards……………………….

.The GNK staff………………………………………

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Bar staff in the Clover…………………………

Jenny at the golf club……………………………..

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We eventually got a clubhouse (shop and bar) whilst not what we were promised was in a great location with views all around.

Nearly finished………………………….

Looking good at night…………………………..

a few of us were there to celebrate the opening………………………………..

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Had to include these…………………….

me and Ken have a decent player for our next team game – he has local knowledge of the course……………

and some more………………

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both have not been here for some time but most welcome………..

newckie brun can cure all ills……….

Barry had to wear the glasses though………

Dave is half Irish because he likes guinness……..

Can’t believe Lesley grabbed his balls…….

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There have been bad times when the Spanish weather has taken its toll on the course.

floods………………….

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a rare sight…………………….

.Early morning frost can be coped with though………………………..

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The biggest success has been the Viking Cup, decided over a few drinks in Torkilds’ penthouse. It has grown year on year with victories being shared and friendships formed which will last forever.

The first match was at Saurines (our course was closed) and we knew then it would continue. 28 players in that first match, and there have been 92 at the last few events!

The captains at that first competition, myself and Jan Skjold……………………………

UK win this one…………………………..

and the Vikings win this!

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But the main success of the society has been the friendships made – people came here maybe knowing no one, but they are now friends across the countries now.

To finish I will add some of my favourite photos…………………..

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And 7 of the last 10 captains – Kevin was on the course!

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And a final reminder of a good 12 months 4 years ago when I had a purple patch! Never played to my handicap since and will eventually stop going up when I reach 28 handicap!

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Thanks for the memories, so much more I could add, but must stop now or I will go on forever!

I have done the blog for 10 years and could see its usefulness was on the wane, so I have decided to call it a day. Only about 50% views now compared to 2 years ago, so it looks like members are getting the information that they want from master scoreboard. All the results are there plus much more.

I don’t play much now so it is difficult to add the extra detail which isn’t included on master scoreboard. The photos I put on are understandably repetitive, with the same venue, presenters, winners. All the best days of this blog are in the past, so feel free to look at old posts and you may understand why the content is less interesting.

But all the associated information on the blog – constitution, local rules, blog history etc. is still there at http://www.cdagolf.wordpress.com .The difference will be that I will not commenting on weekly events. It may be that someone will step forward to do their own take on events, but that is for the future.

My decision coincides with the 10th anniversary so I am posting one more blog on Sunday with a look back at the good times. I must add though that without help for the committee the future looks bleak. It is hard work organising, so volunteers for committee or other supporting roles are really necessary to give golfers the whole package they have come to expect.

Perfect weather for our first away day of 2020. The 42 golfers enjoyed the course with fantastic views around Murcia. I wouldn’t have liked to walk the course with many steep inclines, but some locals did! Davie Gibson had a fantastic 41 points off a handicap of 2, so well deserved. Anthony Keating was so close with 40 points.

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Peter Reeves, Ken Saunders, Gary Ackroyd and Phil Cooke at the first tee………………

Blair Johnstone and Bernard West at the bottom of one of the many hills…………………….

Barry Answer keeps his head down on this approach chip…………………….

the group behind catches us us as they reach Bernard and Blair’s abandoned buggy – the battery packed up………………………………..

The past captains – from left to right – Barry Barker, Dave Rollett, Dave Lloyd, Neil Simpson, Ken Saunders, Phil Cooke, Alicia Saunders. Kevin Smith was still on the course when the photo was taken (sorry Kev!)

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The society is 10 years old this week and as every year the event was a pairs stableford. Tanya was again starter for 56 players, 29 teams. Mike Friend and Ross Muirhead had a fantastic score of 47 points to take the title.

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Ross and Mike receive the trophy…………………………………….

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1st Mike Friend & Ross Muirhead……………………………………..47pts

2nd Shaun Cairney & Anthony Keating………………………………44pts (on c/b)

3rd Teresa Nicol & Andrew Nicol……………………………………….44pts

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Nearest pin

3rd Lis Jacobsen

7th Kevin Smith

11th Dave Lloyd

17th Pat Whitty

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.Kevin……………………………….

Dave…………………..

Pat………………….

Anthony & Shaun were runners-up………………………………..

Andrew & Teresa Nicol just got pipped for second……………………….

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My playing partners, Barry Answer, Barbara Rollett and Dave Rollett

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Over the last couple of months the committee has been aiming to provide a memorable day for the 10th anniversary. So everyone who attended the evening at the Condado Club had a free meal, and the golfers got a monogrammed golf towel to mark the event. This was possible through the sale of raffle tickets. Ardis Tanya and Gillian made a great job of decorating the room.

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The presentation table…………………………………..

and the celebration cake………………………………

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The away day to Altoreal is on Monday, be at the Al Kasar for departure at 08.15 and please wear your society blue polo shirts – tee times will be drawn on the bus.

To celebrate our 10 years I will prepare a special blog in the next few days looking back at the good times…………………………

Sorry there was no blog this week, I was on holiday in Menorca and no laptop. Lost access to phone when the google assistant hijacked the phone, repeating every key press and refusing to scroll. Back home now and Matthew in Tech shop sorted it in about 60 seconds!

All I can do is list the prize winners, although it was very strange that the best score in division one was only 31 points, yet division two was up at 35/36 which is good for that division.

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1st division

1st Shaun Cairney (7.9)……………………………………………..31pts (on c/b)

2nd Bob Whitty (14.4)…………………………………………………31pts

3rd Pat Whitty (13.0)…………………………………………………30pts

2nd division

1st Eric Van Nigtevegt (15.3)……………………………………36pts

2nd Gary Ackroyd (15.4)…………………………………………..35pts

3rd Alicia Saunders (21.9)……………………………………….33pts

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Next Friday is the Anniversary Trophy (we are 10 years old!), pairs stableford.

On the following Monday we have the away day to Altoreal (with shopping for the girls).

Please be aware that proof of an active handicap is required when joining or renewing membership with the society. If no proof of handicap can be shown then the member will not be eligible to win a major competition until three cards have been returned.
See Handicapping Policy
For further info on CONGU/EGA conversion see here